As dust is slowly setting and while we wait for the Paralympics, i would just like to thank all those who followed those Olympics.
The months leading up to them were hectic, to say the least, even without mentioning the political turmoil, the buildup to the Games themselves was surrounded with skepticism. Everyone in France was prophesising the failure of the game, saying we’d embarrass ourselves with protests, public transportation problems, the whole swimming in the Seine clownshow, subpar infrastructure, delusions of grandeur and empty venues. We loved to hate on the Olympics preparations in Paris, and as Parisian I rued the day we’d won that hosting bid everytime I tried to get close to the Seine and had to dodge the omnipresent construction sites. The mascot was a joke for weeks… every little thing was getting flak, and we almost were hoping the government would once again make fools of themselves by missing the mark.
To sum it up, we French were grumpily running toward a train-wreck.
Then it started, and right off the bat the rugby sevens tournament success changed the mood. Even the opening ceremony’s controversies couldn’t stop the wave that took over the country. The venues were amazing, the competition was riveting and, most of all, the world was loving it and telling us how much they enjoyed it. The Olympic spirit had taken hold, and for two weeks we’ve been having a truce from what’s otherwise been a very gloomy year… we’ve been proud to host, and that also owes to foreigners not being shy about loving the spectacle. So thanks everyone, notably here on Reddit of course, for giving us a reason to appreciate our country qualities and beauty.
As we go back to our regularly scheduled political manœuvering now, I won’t forget how the entire world came to Paris to show the best it had to offer, and how, however much doubt we had initially, Paris turned out to be up to the task.
Thank you Redditors or this sub for your positive energy, thanks to the athletes of your countries for joining ours in the greatest celebration of sports in the world, and see you all in four years in LA !
Can’t wait for the city of angels to show us how grand it can make things 😊
Viva la France!!!
Allez les bluez, Leon leon leon Teddy Teddy Teddy La marsaillaise
We thank the french for giving Humanity such wonderful moments to live for, for the rest of our lives.
I wish to have seen these moments in person! Hopefully at LA 28.
Great job France & Paris! Not only for the great organisation but also for the amazing French people creating a terrific atmosphere. You can be proud of these games.
I think you did a wonderful job, and most of the controversies were political propaganda from outside.
Allez le bleu! You won’t beat us again in volleyball, tho.
It was the best Olympics in my middle aged life. And I just spent one month in Paris in May. Don’t find it gloomy in the least! I was born in Paris, and lived most recently in France from 2014-2017. I was very impressed by the changes since then.
From Australia, thank you France. Even though many Aussie’s have Olympic fatigue from some late nights and early mornings cause of the time difference, it was worth it 1000%. Amazing Olympics.
Just wonderful. The few things that didn’t work were overshadowed by the vast number of things that were perfect. Merci bien France.
Your English is so perfect, so you cannot be a true French u/Altriaas ;) Or thank you AI ? 😅
As a French I am also proud of those Olympic Games : we made it!
The same thing seems to have happened in London 2012. Everyone there was very characteristically pessimistic about the games before they started, but after the Opening Ceremony, everyone was swept up in the grandeur and unity of the event, the sheer wondrous spectacle. Even the more pessimistic Brits I talked to during my year in the UK had very positive memories of the Games. In a real and non-sentimental way, the Games really can connect people to each other and to the culture and history of a place, at least for a few weeks.
It was so beautiful and Paris did a great job! It made me want to visit — merci for a lovely time, France! 🇫🇷
For the first time, I really wish I didn’t live on the U.S. East coast. That aspect of a wave that took over the country, I can’t wait for that in the U.S, but with our size I’m worried it won’t be as big where I’m at
Without any reservation, I feel like I’ve finally seen an Olympics that matches the 2008 Beijing event (no offense to London, Rio, and Tokyo). You’ve set the bar for LA extremely high.